You will need an environmental permit if your business performs industrial activities that could cause pollution. Use this page to apply for, vary, transfer or surrender an environmental permit.
Environmental permits set conditions such as emission limits and best practice agreements. This helps to achieve environmental targets and outcomes, such as improving air quality.
Environmental permit types
There are three types of environmental permit: Part A1, Part A2 and Part B permits.
We are responsible for Part A2 and Part B permits, while the Environment Agency regulates the larger A1 processes.
Select a topic below to find out what is covered by each category of permit.
The Environment Agency regulates Part A1 installations. Industries such as large-scale power stations, chemical works and pharmaceutical production are included in this category.
We regulate Part A2 processes. This includes smaller-scale processes which can cause emissions to air, land and water, as well as other environmental considerations.
Examples are brick manufacturers and timber treatment processes.
We regulate Part B processes. This type of permit covers operations that only cause emissions to air.
Industries such as cement batching plants, coating material manufacture, petrol service stations, dry cleaners and vehicle refinishers are included in this category.
If you are unsure whether you need a permit, please email us at environmental_monitoring@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225 396693 for advice.
Waste operations: T3 and T7 exemptions
Some waste operations are exempt from needing an environmental permit. Each exemption has specific limits and conditions you need to operate within.
You will need to register for most waste exemptions with the Environment Agency. However, if you want to apply for a T3 or T7 exemption, you must register with us. These are:
- T3 - treatment of waste metals and metal alloys by heating for the purposes of removing grease
- T7 - treatment of waste bricks, tiles and concrete by crushing, grinding or reducing in size
Read a full description of T3 and T7 exemptions
Fees and charges
You will need to pay a fee when you apply for a permit or apply to vary, transfer or surrender a permit. You will also need to pay an annual charge. The annual charge amount will depend on whether we classify your operation as low, medium or high risk.
We will send you an invoice when we receive your application. You can pay your invoice online.
Select a topic below to find out the fees and charges for Part A2 and Part B permits.
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sets the fees for environmental permits.
| Fee | Price |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £3,363 per activity at the installation |
| Variation fee | £1,368 |
| Total transfer fee | £235 |
| Partial transfer fee | £698 |
| Permit surrender fee | £698 |
| Fee | Price |
|---|---|
| Low-risk Part A2 activity | £1,343 |
| Medium-risk Part A2 activity | £1,507 |
| High-risk Part A2 activity | £2,230 |
| Additional fee where UK-PRTR reporting is required | £104 |
| Payment by instalment fee | £38 |
| Late payment fee | £52 |
| Additional fee for operating without a permit | £1,188 |
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sets the fees for environmental permits.
Reduced fee activities
There are some industrial activities which pose a lower risk to the environment and have reduced fees:
- Part 1 reduced fee activities include: petrol filling stations, vehicle refinishers (such as body repair shops) and dry cleaners
- Part 2 reduced fee activities include: the manufacture of heavy clay goods, roadstone coating, china clay processes, crushing and screening of brick, tiles and concrete and the manufacture of timber-based products
- Part 3 reduced fee activities include: most bulk cement activities, coal and coke activities, some quarry processes and other mineral activities
- Part 4 reduced fee activities include: powder coating, maggot breeding, animal feed compounding and other animal material processes, bitumen activities and polymerisation processes
| Fee | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard Part B application fee | £1,650 |
| Additional fee for operating without a permit | £1,188 |
| Part 1 reduced fee activities (dry cleaners and PVR I only) | £155 |
| PVR I & II (petrol vapour recovery stages 1b and II combined) | £257 |
| Vehicle refinishers and any other reduced fee activity | £362 |
| Reduced fee activities: Additional fee for operating without a permit | £71 |
| Mobile plant first and second permits (each, for mobile plant not using simplified permits) | £1,650 |
| Mobile plant third to seventh permits (each, for mobile plant not using simplified permits) | £985 |
| Mobile plant eighth and subsequent (each, for mobile plant not using simplified permits) | £498 |
| Standard process transfer | £169 |
| Standard process partial transfer | £497 |
| Reduced fee activities: transfer | £0 |
| Reduced fee activities: partial transfer | £47 |
| Temporary transfer for mobile plant | £53 |
| Permit surrender for all Part B activities | £0 |
| Fee | Low-risk | Medium-risk | High-risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Part B permit | £772 | £1,161 | £1,747 |
| Part 1 reduced fee activities | £79 | £158 | £237 |
| PVR I & II (petrol vapour recovery stages 1b and II combined) | £113 | £226 | £341 |
| Vehicle refinishers and any other reduced fee activity | £228 | £365 | £548 |
| Mobile plant first and second permits (each, for mobile plant not using simplified permits) | £626 | £1,034 | £1,551 |
| Mobile plant third to seventh permits (each, for mobile plant not using simplified permits) | £385 | £617 | £924 |
| Mobile plant eighth and subsequent (each, for mobile plant not using simplified permits) | £198 | £314 | £473 |
Apply now
If you want to apply for, vary, transfer or surrender an environmental permit, you need to complete the relevant forms.
If you want to apply for a Part A1 permit, you need to apply through the Environment Agency on GOV.uk.
Select a topic below to find the relevant forms for your application. You need to send the completed form to us by emailing environmental_monitoring@bathnes.gov.uk.
What happens next
If your application has all the information we need, we have up to 4 months to issue your permit, or up to 3 months for reduced fee activities. This allows us to consult with other interested parties, such as the Environment Agency and Natural England.
If your application does not have all of the information we need, we will ask you for additional information. This can delay your application.
Appeals
If we decide to refuse to issue a permit, you can appeal to the Government.
You can also appeal if you have received a permit but do not agree with any of the conditions.